Episode 97 The Fifth CourtMichael O’Farrell is a journalist for over two decades and has reported widely on matters of public interest from across the globe and at home. He is currently Investigations Editor with The Irish Mail on Sunday. His new book, ‘Fugitive: The Michael Lynn Story,’ is the true story of how he tracked down and then interviewed one of Ireland’s most notorious fugitives, former solicitor Michael Lynn, an emblem of the craziest days of the Celtic Tiger era. Some of the...

Episode 96 The Fifth Court with Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL. On this episode, Judge Gráinne Malone, a former solicitor who also qualified as a barrister but who went on the bench after only six months at the bar, and who has now served thirteen years as a judge. She talks about the new Irish Courts Service Podcast, an initiative created to commemorate the centenary of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 that established our modern Courts system. They discuss the various episodes and...

Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL chat to Marla Dukharan and Bill Black, world experts in White Collar Crime, at an early morning talk at the Kilkenomics Festival. They discuss white collar prosecutions, and the double standards applied to Caribbean countries by the OECD, as well as Bill's book, titled 'The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One' ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 94 Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor It takes specialist knowledge and understanding to appreciate the problems farmers face today. Every decision is affected by legal, tax and practical considerations specific to farming business.  As a qualified solicitor, tax consultant and young trained farmer, Aisling Meehan (ex William Fry) can combine all three aspects to ensure that every decision is in the best interests of the farming business as a whole. Rather than offer a broad...

Recorded at the 2024 ELI (European Law Institute) Annual Conference held at the Kings Inns, Dublin, where Fifth Court presenters, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL, talk to ELI President, Professor Pascal Pichonnaz Professor Pichonnaz earned a Ph.D. that is in published form as ‘Habilitation’, a large book on the Law of Set-off. He teaches Contract Law, European Consumer Law, Roman Law and European Private Law at the University of Fribourg. He has been a visiting professor at the...

Episode 92 The Fifth Court Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales and ELI Vice-President who attended the European Law Institute (ELI) conference in Dublin. Established in 2011, the ELI emulates the American Law Institute and focuses on advancing all areas of law across Europe and beyond. As the premier Institute of its kind in Europe, ELI brings together over 1,700 jurists – including academics, judges, and practitioners – to enhance legal...

Episode 91, The Fifth Court A slightly longer than usual edition of Ireland's favourite podcast as our hosts delve into the light and shade of Arthur Mathews new book, 'Walled In By Hate: Kevin O’Higgins, His Friends and Enemies'. Arthur is well known as co-creator of Father Ted so naturally the talk starts with a chat about the modern sitcom masterpiece, and everybody's favourite Fr. Ted moments. However, more sombrely, the talk then turns to the subject matter of Arthur's latest book,...

E90 The Fifth Court - The Vacation Sittings Continuing our series of law related interviews whilst regular presenters Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL take a well-earned break. Life after the law. On this episode, former Senior Counsel Jenny O'Connell along with her pals Louise O'Riordan and Aoife Matthews, have all given up high-powered 'real jobs' to take the entrepreneurial journey to sell their high-end women’s health supplement to the world. Developed solely with the female in...

E89 The Fifth Court - The Vacation Sittings This is the third of four vacation sittings of the Fifth Court. On this episode we've teamed up with our sister podcast That Great Business Show again to bring you an interview with Colm O'Reilly, COO Business Post Group, Chairman Newsbrands Ireland, Board member Press Council of Ireland. Colm discusses the laws of defamation and copyright, how it impacts all newspapers and what is in store for the broader newspaper industry, an essential part of a...

E88 The Fifth Court - The Vacation Sittings This is the second of four vacation sittings of the Fifth Court. On this episode we hear our Fifth Court co-presenter turned guest, Mark Tottenham BL and an 'expert witness' expert (!) (he's written the books - plural) talk all about the importance of the 'expert witness', but we start with 'expert witnesses' gone bad. It's a long list. We also ask if it's possible to make a living by being an expert witness. This comes from an interview Mark did...

E87 The Fifth Court This is the first of four vacation sittings of the Fifth Court. On this episode we hear presenter turned guest, Peter Leonard BL and mediator, discuss the virtues of mediation versus litigation, in an interview Peter did recently with Fifth Court producer Conall O Morain, on Conall's own business podcast, That Great Business Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

E86 The Fifth Court - DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' On this episode hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined by Isabella Hughes, boxer (!) and former legal executive Cosgrove Gaynard Solicitors who has turned co-founder of Simple Probate, inspired by the founder's experience with probate inefficiencies. Talking to solicitors and executors highlighted the need to streamline tasks, boost efficiency, and improve client communication. Their mission is to streamline probate for...

E85 The Fifth Court A most entertaining episode of podcast as our hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL chat to Law Library legend Ercus Stewart, a barrister for almost fifty five years during which time he has probably been involved in every type of legal case imaginable. The three even touch on Master and Servant law! His membership of associations probably tells a story or two...he's a member of; American Arbitration Association Chartered Institute of Arbitrators E.E.L.A. -...

E84 The Fifth Court Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined in studio by solicitor and Partner at Byrne Wallace, Martin Cooney talking about the law and housing development. He thinks he was always was going to be a lawyer having, at the age of 12, drawn up a contract with his own mother, for payments for chores in the family home! He also is in the Army Reserve, something he recommends most highly. He still trains every year, as well as advising many top developers. So what...

E83 The Fifth Court Problems have emerged around new legislation around enduring powers of attorney (EPA). On this episode hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL discuss these issues, and some solutions, with David Byrnes BL and solicitor Flor McCarthy, Founder Director of Solicitors Growth, Ireland’s largest independent community of mutual support and collegiality for Irish legal professionals. David tells his own personal and poignant story about issues that arose with his own...

E82 The Fifth Court Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL talk to Kevin O'Higgins, solicitor, about his life and times. As he says himself, 'After 40+ years of practising law, I’ve learned a few things along the way!' and he shares some of that knowledge at https://ohigginssolicitors.ie/blog BTW, when he started in law a fax machine was seen as near revolutionary! A sole practitioner he says he's so busy he sometimes turns business away. His recommendations for a legal book, Eugene...

E81 The Fifth Court Supported by Clio Legal Software Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL spoke to Arko Ganguli, co-founder of Letigify, an AI powered solution using audio-video authentication that allows clients to notarize documents online remotely from anywhere, without the hassle of visiting a notary public in person. Arko is a trained lawyer and a legal consultant for over eleven years, working with various clients and organisations in different sectors and domains. He's also a...

E80 of The Fifth Court was recorded at the Dublin Tech Summit AI not a concept, but a reality now in law. This is a must listen-to episode if you want to know what's about to happen to your legal practice. Dr Leif-Nissen Lundbæk is FORBES 30-Under-30 Listmaker. He's also co-founder and CEO of the AI company Xayn. His company is working with CMS, an international law firm, offering companies and organisations advice on a full range of legal issues. CMS consists of 18 independent law firms...

E79 The Fifth Court Hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL are joined by barrister Mema Byrne BL, to talk about the 2nd edition of her book, Landlord and Tenant, (Commercial Sector). The three discuss many issues around this area of law in which she works and lectures - but also the road that brought her to law. She worked in banking which she says didn't 'resonate with her at all'. She had a child, needed a job, but not in banking. She did a night course in law - and as she says...

E78 The Fifth Court DSBA Legal Podcast of the Year With thanks to Clio Legal Software. Bloomsday is a celebration of James Joyce's Ulysses, taking place annually on June 16th. The date commemorates the events of the novel, which are set on June 16, 1904. This day is significant because it marks Joyce's first outing with his future wife, Nora Barnacle. The publication of Ulysses itself became a landmark legal case in literary history. The novel was banned for obscenity in several countries,...

E77 The Fifth Court - with @Mark Tottenham BL and @Peter Leonard BL With thanks to Clio Legal Software Something you may not have considered. The Polish community, numbering above 100,000, is one of Ireland's largest non-Irish communities. Naturally, they need legal representation and advice. So who do they go to? Krystian Boino obtained his masters degree from the University of Wroclaw, Poland in 2003. By 2006 he had completed a judge’s apprenticeship and successfully passed exams which...

E76 The Fifth Court DSBA 'Podcast of the Year' With thanks to Clio Legal Software Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL interrogate Senator (and former councillor) Barry Ward BL about the powers that local authorities have and the claimed powers of local councillors (especially in the light of claims made in election literature).He discusses all aspects of local authorities including the corruption of the 1990's, the number of elected councillors and whether that could/should be cut,...

E75 The Fifth Court - recorded at the Solicitor's Growth Summit Our hosts, Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL are joined by barrister Joe Brolly BL, the well know GAA football analyst who played at senior level for Derry and was a member of that county's only All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning side in 1993. An entertaining romp through the life and times of the well known lawyer and pundit. About the Northern Troubles, according to Joe his mother always said, 'he started the...

E74 The Fifth Court with Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL From Riverdance to the Four Courts, a life after RTE for TV personality turned barrister Cynthia Ni Mhurchú who is hoping for another career pivot as she stands for election for the EU Parliament. Obviously there was discussion with our two hosts about the iconic Eurovision Song Contest night, presented in Dublin by Cynthia and the late Gerry Ryan along with Michael Flatley, 'The Bull McCabe' is how she describes him, and the...